The Reptile Edge
Reptile Theory
Defending Against the Reptile Attack
Reverse the Reptile.™ America is one of a handful of countries that allows witnesses to be interrogated by way of deposition. Many of these depositions are conducted without the supervision of the court, and thus, done in unprofessional ways. One such method used is an attempt to confuse or tire the witness and obtain answers that can be taken out of context and, therefore, do not reflect the truth. These unscrupulous tactics have been written about by the plaintiff’s bar, and they call these tactics “reptile strategies.” It is the mission of Reverse the Reptile™ to ensure that juries have accurate testimony to deliberate and render just verdicts.
The Edge
Reptile Theory Evolves
The Reptile is evolving, and so are we. Plaintiff’s bar has mastered the Reptile Theory and has been very successful in winning nuclear verdicts. Don Keenan is stepping up his game with a new tactic—The Edge Methodology. The Edge tactics are more complex than Reptile tactics. Plaintiff’s counsels that have mastered this Edge Method are not just seeing nuclear verdicts but are now receiving thermonuclear verdicts that are devastating the Defense. Our team is trained in the methods of Reptile and Edge and can successfully prepare your witnesses for both methods. The Edge Methodology has started to spread like wildfire, and the Defense Bar needs to be prepared to push back. Plaintiff’s bar is able to go to Keenan’s Institute in order to learn these techniques and master them to use against the Defense. Let our team ensure that your witness is competent in Reptile and Edge and your handling attorney understands how both are being used in the case against their client.
Browse Our
News & Events
This November, Robin Jackson-Bernhardt will be presenting at the Women in the Courtroom, a full-day program presented by the New Mexico Defense Lawyers Association (NMDLA), which celebrates and empowers women in litigation while addressing cutting-edge challenges in the courtroom. Robin will be presenting on “The Evolving Threat of Reptile and Edge Methodology Against the Defense Bar: Methods for Countering Plaintiff-Oriented Neuro-Persuasion Tactics.” In this high-impact session, Robin will explore how plaintiff attorneys are adapting psychological manipulation strategies like Reptile Theory and the emerging Edge methodology to shape juror perception and drive verdicts. Drawing from her extensive deposition preparation and trial experience, Robin will equip attendees with practical, evidence-based tools to recognize and neutralize these tactics before they gain traction.
At the 2025 Gavel Claims Convention, Reverse the Reptile co-founder Robin Jackson-Bernhardt delivered an insightful presentation titled “Deposition Preparation in the Age of Nuclear Verdicts.” Robin provided an in-depth overview of the Edge Method—a rising plaintiff strategy that is even more psychologically complex and damaging than Reptile Theory. She also explored the cognitive effects of triggering the brain’s primitive survival mechanisms during testimony, and how such activation can compromise witness credibility. The session offered practical, neuroscience-informed strategies to prepare witnesses for high-pressure testimony and guard against plaintiff tactics designed to provoke fear-based responses.
Robin Jackson-Bernhardt attended the Mongoose Method Training Conference sponsored by the Nevada Trucking Association in Las Vegas in October 2024. The training was focused on legal and courtroom science techniques to prep trucking professionals and legal teams to better handle litigation with strategies to protect against reptile theory-based lawsuits.
On March 26, 2024, Reverse the Reptile co-founders Dan Santaniello and Robin Jackson-Bernhardt presented a dynamic session titled “Waging an Effective Mongoose Counteroffensive to the Reptile Phenomenon.” The presentation explored how defense counsel can strategically combat Plaintiff’s Reptile tactics using the Mongoose Method—a proactive approach focused on defusing fear-based arguments and shifting the narrative back to the defense. Attendees learned about actionable techniques to protect their clients and drive toward successful defense verdicts.
Reverse the Reptile co-founders Robin Jackson-Bernhardt and Dan Santaniello were honored to present at the client seminar on Witness Preparation. The presentation focused on understanding and neutralizing the Reptile Theory and equipping witnesses with the tools and mindset needed for confident, credible deposition testimony. Attendees gained insight into practical techniques for protecting the record and preserving witness integrity in high-stakes cases.
